People in these occupations manage and analyze technical information and communication systems, provide user support, and plan, build, and test applications and systems.
Jobholders in this sector could perform in a variety of roles such as to design, develop and maintain websites, provide technical support and advice or organise, manage and coordinate the provision of specialist IT services.
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Take a closer look at our Computing courses
Meet our staff and students
Francisco Costa Mendes
Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT"I feel college has benefited me as I am learning new things all the time. I think what I have learnt will give me a head start at university. The course has helped me be more independent. "
Fraser Shaw
Level 3 in Information Technology"You get lots of hand on learning and work placement opportunities as part of the course. College is different to school, it’s not as restrictive, you do more independent study, where you work at your own pace."
Computing at Newcastle College
What can I do with a qualification in Computing?
Information technology and telecommunications directors
Information technology and telecommunications professionals n.e.c.
IT specialist managers
IT project and programme managers
IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
IT operations technicians
IT user support technicians
IT engineers
Marketing associate professionals
Daily tasks:
- Ensures that new technologies are researched and evaluated in the light of the organisation.
- Prioritises and schedules major IT/telecommunications projects.
- Considers the required IT/telecommunications staffing levels, oversees recruitment and appointment of staff and directs training policy.
- Develops the periodic business plan and operational budget for IT/telecommunications to deliver agreed service levels.
- Directs the implementation within the organisation of IT/telecommunications strategy, infrastructure, procurement, procedures and standards.
- Develops in consultation with other senior management the IT/telecommunications strategy of the organisation.
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Daily tasks:
- Deals with and reports on breaches in security.
- Examines IT system for potential threats to its security and integrity and draws up plans for disaster recovery if security is compromised.
- Makes recommendations concerning software/system quality.
- Develops quality standards and validation techniques.
- Develops, implements and documents test plans for IT software, systems and computer games.
- Undertakes the testing of software, systems or computer games for errors, identifies source of problems and proposes solutions.
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Daily tasks:
- Reports on IT activities to senior management.
- Plans and monitors work and maintenance schedules to ensure agreed service levels are achieved.
- Supervises the technical team and coordinates training.
- Takes responsibility for managing the development of a specialist aspect of IT provision such as user support, network operations, service delivery or quality control.
- Liaises with users, senior staff and internal/external clients to clarify IT requirements and development needs.
- Plans, coordinates and manages the organisation.
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Daily tasks:
- Reports on project or programme to senior management and/or client.
- Coordinates and oversees implementation of the project or programme.
- Monitors progress including project/programme budget, timescale and quality.
- Manages third party contributions to the programme or project.
- Coordinates and supervises the activities of the project/programme team.
- Plans the stages of the project or programme, reviews actions and amends plans as necessary.
- Works with client or senior management to establish and clarify the aims, objectives and requirements of the IT project or programme.
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Daily tasks:
- Works closely with clients to implement new systems.
- Researches, analyses, evaluates and monitors network infrastructure and performance.
- Examines existing business models and flows of data and designs functional specifications and test plans for new systems in order to meet clients.
- Provides advice and assistance in the procurement, provision, delivery, installation, maintenance and use of IT systems and their environments.
- Communicates the impact of emerging technologies to clients and advises upon the potential introduction of such technology.
- Undertakes feasibility studies for major IT developments incorporating costs and benefits, and presents proposals to clients.
- Liaises with internal/external clients in order to analyse business procedure, clarify clients.
Powered by EMSI
Daily tasks:
- Acts as a liaison between users, outside suppliers, and other technical teams.
- Performs server backup and recovery operations and restarts systems following outages.
- Identifies problems, agrees remedial action and undertakes emergency maintenance if required.
- Analyses systems and makes recommendations to improve performance.
- Schedules and performs system maintenance tasks, such as loading user applications, programs and data.
- Configures and sets up new server systems.
- Administers, monitors and supports internal/external networks, servers, email, database and security systems.
Powered by EMSI
Daily tasks:
- Reports on commonly occurring queries to detect underlying problems.
- Maintains a log of work in progress, calls received, actions taken and problems detected.
- Researches possible solutions in user guides, technical manuals and other documents.
- Refers more complex or intractable problems to appropriate IT professionals.
- Facilitates user access to systems.
- Installs and upgrades hardware, cables, operating systems and/or appropriate software.
- Advises users on how to resolve hardware and software problems.
- Provides technical support to IT users.
Powered by EMSI
Daily tasks:
- Maintains documentation to track and log work in progress and completed.
- Advises on and installs operating soft/firm ware and may carry out upgrades.
- Repairs or replaces defective components.
- Diagnoses hardware related faults.
- Installs, tests and maintains computer-related hardware (processors, memory chips, circuit boards, displays, sensors, data storage devices, printers, etc.) according to given specifications.
Powered by EMSI
Daily tasks:
- Briefs advertising team on client requirements, monitors the progress of advertising campaigns and liaises with client on potential modifications.
- Discusses possible changes that need to be made in terms of design, price, packaging, promotion etc. in light of market research with appropriate departments.
- Collates and interprets findings of market research and presents results to clients.
- Establishes an appropriate quantitative and qualitative market research methodology and prepares proposals outlining programmes of work and details of costs.
- Discusses business methods, products or services and targets customer group with employer or client in order to identify marketing requirements.
Powered by EMSI
What can I do with a qualification in Computing?
Information technology and telecommunications directors
Daily tasks:
- Ensures that new technologies are researched and evaluated in the light of the organisation.
- Prioritises and schedules major IT/telecommunications projects.
- Considers the required IT/telecommunications staffing levels, oversees recruitment and appointment of staff and directs training policy.
- Develops the periodic business plan and operational budget for IT/telecommunications to deliver agreed service levels.
- Directs the implementation within the organisation of IT/telecommunications strategy, infrastructure, procurement, procedures and standards.
- Develops in consultation with other senior management the IT/telecommunications strategy of the organisation.
Powered by EMSI
Information technology and telecommunications professionals n.e.c.
Daily tasks:
- Deals with and reports on breaches in security.
- Examines IT system for potential threats to its security and integrity and draws up plans for disaster recovery if security is compromised.
- Makes recommendations concerning software/system quality.
- Develops quality standards and validation techniques.
- Develops, implements and documents test plans for IT software, systems and computer games.
- Undertakes the testing of software, systems or computer games for errors, identifies source of problems and proposes solutions.
Powered by EMSI
IT specialist managers
Daily tasks:
- Reports on IT activities to senior management.
- Plans and monitors work and maintenance schedules to ensure agreed service levels are achieved.
- Supervises the technical team and coordinates training.
- Takes responsibility for managing the development of a specialist aspect of IT provision such as user support, network operations, service delivery or quality control.
- Liaises with users, senior staff and internal/external clients to clarify IT requirements and development needs.
- Plans, coordinates and manages the organisation.
Powered by EMSI
IT project and programme managers
Daily tasks:
- Reports on project or programme to senior management and/or client.
- Coordinates and oversees implementation of the project or programme.
- Monitors progress including project/programme budget, timescale and quality.
- Manages third party contributions to the programme or project.
- Coordinates and supervises the activities of the project/programme team.
- Plans the stages of the project or programme, reviews actions and amends plans as necessary.
- Works with client or senior management to establish and clarify the aims, objectives and requirements of the IT project or programme.
Powered by EMSI
IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
Daily tasks:
- Works closely with clients to implement new systems.
- Researches, analyses, evaluates and monitors network infrastructure and performance.
- Examines existing business models and flows of data and designs functional specifications and test plans for new systems in order to meet clients.
- Provides advice and assistance in the procurement, provision, delivery, installation, maintenance and use of IT systems and their environments.
- Communicates the impact of emerging technologies to clients and advises upon the potential introduction of such technology.
- Undertakes feasibility studies for major IT developments incorporating costs and benefits, and presents proposals to clients.
- Liaises with internal/external clients in order to analyse business procedure, clarify clients.
Powered by EMSI
IT operations technicians
Daily tasks:
- Acts as a liaison between users, outside suppliers, and other technical teams.
- Performs server backup and recovery operations and restarts systems following outages.
- Identifies problems, agrees remedial action and undertakes emergency maintenance if required.
- Analyses systems and makes recommendations to improve performance.
- Schedules and performs system maintenance tasks, such as loading user applications, programs and data.
- Configures and sets up new server systems.
- Administers, monitors and supports internal/external networks, servers, email, database and security systems.
Powered by EMSI
IT user support technicians
Daily tasks:
- Reports on commonly occurring queries to detect underlying problems.
- Maintains a log of work in progress, calls received, actions taken and problems detected.
- Researches possible solutions in user guides, technical manuals and other documents.
- Refers more complex or intractable problems to appropriate IT professionals.
- Facilitates user access to systems.
- Installs and upgrades hardware, cables, operating systems and/or appropriate software.
- Advises users on how to resolve hardware and software problems.
- Provides technical support to IT users.
Powered by EMSI
IT engineers
Daily tasks:
- Maintains documentation to track and log work in progress and completed.
- Advises on and installs operating soft/firm ware and may carry out upgrades.
- Repairs or replaces defective components.
- Diagnoses hardware related faults.
- Installs, tests and maintains computer-related hardware (processors, memory chips, circuit boards, displays, sensors, data storage devices, printers, etc.) according to given specifications.
Powered by EMSI
Marketing associate professionals
Daily tasks:
- Briefs advertising team on client requirements, monitors the progress of advertising campaigns and liaises with client on potential modifications.
- Discusses possible changes that need to be made in terms of design, price, packaging, promotion etc. in light of market research with appropriate departments.
- Collates and interprets findings of market research and presents results to clients.
- Establishes an appropriate quantitative and qualitative market research methodology and prepares proposals outlining programmes of work and details of costs.
- Discusses business methods, products or services and targets customer group with employer or client in order to identify marketing requirements.